When carpenter and former viticulturist Michael Gavel found himself recovering from major spinal surgery, he didn’t see it as a setback—he saw it as an opportunity.

Michael is one of those rare individuals who has done it all, from managing vineyards to working in remote gold mines, and even running building jobs with his interior-designer wife. But as manual labour took its toll, and with long-term goals of flipping houses and designing homes, Michael knew he needed to pivot into something that could sustain his future. That’s when he discovered BFDA’s Certificate IV in Residential Drafting.

Career Change with a Purpose

“I’m a viticulturalist originally,” Michael explains, “but I ended up doing a mature-age carpentry apprenticeship, and later got my builder’s ticket. My wife and I have been flipping and renovating homes when we can—but we were always relying on others to do the drafting.”

What started as an interest soon became essential. “There’s a six-month wait time just to get a drafter in town. I thought—why not do it myself?”

His surgical recovery gave him the perfect window to study. “I was off work for six months, and it would have driven me mad sitting around. BFDA’s online format meant I could dive straight in and make good use of the time.”

Online Learning for Rural Students

Living in Orange, NSW, Michael had limited local options for further study. “There’s nothing offered in Orange. Most courses are in Sydney or Newcastle, which just wasn’t practical with a young family and a rotating work schedule at the mine.”

The online delivery model offered by BFDA made all the difference. “The flexibility was a huge win,” he says. “I could get into a flow on my week off work—sometimes I’d wake up early, make a coffee, and just dive in. Being able to revisit recorded content, especially the videos, made a massive difference.”

Michael even used a “100-day diary” approach to keep himself on track, drawing on strategies from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear to build the discipline needed to self-direct his learning.

Adding Design to the Toolkit

For Michael, drafting isn’t just a skill—it’s a launchpad.

“I’ve learned so much from the Cert IV. It’s not just drafting plans—it gave me more in-depth knowledge to better communicate on projects and plan future renovations. My wife’s an interior designer, so there’s a lot of potential for us to partner up more formally.”

Michael also has his eye on the BFDA Diploma of Building Design, especially if licencing changes go ahead. “I’d like to work for someone for a few years to really build my confidence, then maybe we’ll branch out and do our own thing. It’s early days—but it feels like a full-circle moment.”

A Role Model for Regional Reskilling

Michael’s story is becoming increasingly common: mature-age professionals and tradespeople seeking long-term, sustainable careers that keep them connected to the building industry without the physical wear and tear.

With the growing demand for housing and a nationwide shortage of building designers, Michael’s journey is not only inspiring—it’s practical.

“The course was a great add-on to my background,” he says. “It opened up real possibilities for staying in the industry, doing something I love, but in a way that works for me and my family.”

🏡 Thinking of Making the Shift?

If you’re living regionally, juggling shift work, or wondering whether it’s too late to switch careers, take a page out of Michael’s book. With the right course and support, your experience on the tools can be the perfect foundation for a design-led career.

Explore our Certificate IV in Residential Drafting to see how it could work for you.